More than 400 people will be taking the plunge in a charity swimathon in Monmouth this weekend.

The inaugural Swim for Tom raised more than £25,000 for Cancer Research Wales 12 months ago.

The second Swim for Tom is being held on Sunday 12th January at Monmouth School for Girls.

“The event is not targeted at competitive swimmers because armbands and floats will be available for the less able,” said Mrs Angela Whitehead, one of the supporters.

“The day is about as many people as possible taking part, raising money for a PhD studentship to help save lives and, most importantly of all, to remember the life of a caring and considerate teenage boy.”

Monmouth-based business, Mandarin Stone, has kindly agreed to sponsor the swimming hats for this year’s event.

Tom Walker was a pupil at Monmouth School for Boys and a member of Monnow Swimming Club. He died unexpectedly and suddenly from leukaemia in June 2018, aged 13.

Since his death, his family – parents, Tim and Debbie; and sisters Holly and Emily – have led efforts to raise £100,000 to set up a research fund, supported by Tom’s friends, Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools and the Monmouthshire community.

The £100,000 target was smashed in just 11 months and The Tom Walker Cancer Wales PhD Studentship for Acute Myeloid Leukaemia Research was launched earlier this year.

The studentship in Tom’s name received four applications and the successful candidate will be chosen for the research project shortly.

To get involved in this Sunday’s Swim for Tom, please visit: http://swimfortom.uk/